Schwartzman announces he will retire in Argentina in 2025

Diego Schwartzman announced on social media Sunday that he will retire next year in Argentina.

“I want my last tournaments to be my own decision,” Schwartzman wrote. “May this 2024 be that way, hopefully having the opportunity to compete in the tournaments I enjoy the most. And in 2025, in Argentina, to be able to have my final moment, the most beautiful closing I can imagine.”

❤️🎾🥹 pic.twitter.com/W7f57lN8Ma

— diego schwartzman (@dieschwartzman) May 5, 2024

The Argentine star, who has climbed as high as No. 8 in the PIF ATP Rankings and earned victories against legends including Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray and Dominic Thiem, used his post to express his gratitude for his journey.

“How many moments I never imagined, how many anecdotes I never dreamed of, how many people I met who helped me grow, who taught me so much, who made me a much better player and person than anyone ever thought I would be, including me,” Schwartzman wrote. “Every corner of the court, every second training, every point competing, every moment I was immensely happy. I lived it with such intensity that today it is difficult for me to maintain it.

“All those beautiful moments have become something that today carries weight and it is difficult for me to continue to fully enjoy. On one hand, leaving a life that gave me so much is a very difficult decision, but on the other hand, how happy I was playing tennis makes me want to keep smiling on and off the court as I always did. However, today that smile is hard to find at times. Inside me, a 'competitive animal' prevents me from enjoying, playing and traveling as I used to.”

The 31-year-old has won 250 tour-level matches and four ATP Tour titles, with his biggest triumph coming at the ATP 500 event in Rio de Janeiro in 2018. In 2020, Schwartzman competed in the prestigious Nitto ATP Finals, then held at The O2 in London.

The Argentine thanked his team, his colleagues on Tour, his partner, family and friends.

“Tennis has given me everything I have and much more that I will carry with me forever. It was a wonderful journey and you were a vital part of it. That's why I wanted to communicate it here and thank you because "El Peque" had a giant of a life,” Schwartzman wrote. “Tennis ball, what can I say to you...? You made me run a lot, laugh, cry, travel and know many places. You gave me a lot and it's time to move on to another stage.

“See you soon tennis, I'll continue sweating until the last shot and working as a professional until the last point I'll play on a tennis court, El Peque.”